Germany To Develop Mobile Air Interceptor System Combining IRIS-T Missile And Drone Technology
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On June 18, 2025, Diehl Defence and the German aerospace company POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH announced a landmark strategic cooperation to develop the Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS), a next-generation air defense solution that integrates the IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile with an autonomous, reusable aerial carrier system. This breakthrough platform aims to deliver precision strike capability, extended engagement range, and flexible deployment across multiple operational domains. Initial flight testing of the AirLAS concept is scheduled for late 2025 and marks the beginning of a transformative capability for modern armed forces.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
German defense companies Diehl Defence and POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH have signed an agreement to mount the IRIS-T air-to-air missile on a reusable unmanned aerial carrier. (Picture source: POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH)
The IRIS-T missile (InfraRed Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled), developed by Diehl Defence as part of a multinational European consortium, is a highly agile, short-range air-to-air weapon designed to counter advanced aerial threats. Reaching speeds close to Mach 3 and offering all-aspect engagement capabilities, it is equipped with a high-resolution infrared seeker and thrust vectoring, enabling it to intercept maneuvering targets such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, and helicopters—even in rear-hemisphere engagements. NATO and allied air forces have widely adopted the missile and has demonstrated operational effectiveness in real-world combat, particularly in Ukraine. Diehl Defence also developed surface-launched variants, including the IRIS-T SLM with a range of 40 km and the extended-range IRIS-T SLX capable of 80 km and altitudes of up to 30 km, broadening the missile’s tactical application.
POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH, based in Bremen, is an aerospace startup spun off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Specializing in reusable spaceplane systems and hypersonic technologies, POLARIS has developed cutting-edge demonstrators such as STELLA, ATHENA, and AURORA. These platforms leverage advanced aerodynamics, high-speed propulsion, and autonomous flight technologies for both civilian and military applications. For the AirLAS initiative, POLARIS contributes a lightweight, unmanned aerial carrier based on its high-performance aerospace design heritage. This autonomous platform is optimized for multi-launch, rapid deployment, and reusability, making it ideal for forward-operating environments or launch from naval and airborne assets.
The core innovation of AirLAS (Airborne Launching and Attack System ) lies in its cost-effective integration of a combat-proven missile system with a reusable autonomous carrier. Traditional ground-based air defense systems are often limited by static deployment and high per-engagement costs. AirLAS addresses these limitations by enabling flexible, mobile interception capabilities that can be launched from ground vehicles, ships, helicopters, or fixed installations. The unmanned nature of the POLARIS platform further reduces operational risk while increasing tempo and responsiveness. This mobility enables AirLAS to fill operational gaps between large surface-to-air missile batteries and manned aircraft, particularly in rapidly evolving or contested battlespaces.
AirLAS is designed for multi-domain integration, including potential embedding within the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Europe’s next-generation air warfare program. As a potential node in the FCAS network, AirLAS could perform autonomous patrols, data-sharing, and coordinated intercepts in conjunction with manned and unmanned assets. It is equally suited for naval environments, where its small footprint and versatility make it ideal for deployment from the decks of warships or coastal platforms. This modularity and flexibility allow AirLAS to provide layered defense against a spectrum of threats from UAV swarms to advanced missile systems.
Furthermore, the technological foundation established by AirLAS paves the way for future applications in hypersonic defense and high-speed strike systems. With its reusable, flight-proven architecture and advanced targeting capabilities, the system could evolve into a testbed for AI-enabled swarm tactics, coordinated autonomous defense networks, and long-range rapid-reaction systems. Diehl Defence and POLARIS envision AirLAS as more than a single solution—it is a platform for innovation that aligns with future military requirements for agility, scalability, and cost efficiency.
The AirLAS development signifies a major shift in air defense strategy by combining the lethality of the IRIS-T missile with the advanced aerospace engineering of POLARIS Raumflugzeuge. It delivers an unmatched combination of precision, range, flexibility, and affordability, promising to revolutionize how modern armed forces defend against aerial threats in both conventional and hybrid warfare environments.
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On June 18, 2025, Diehl Defence and the German aerospace company POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH announced a landmark strategic cooperation to develop the Airborne Launching and Attack System (AirLAS), a next-generation air defense solution that integrates the IRIS-T air-to-air guided missile with an autonomous, reusable aerial carrier system. This breakthrough platform aims to deliver precision strike capability, extended engagement range, and flexible deployment across multiple operational domains. Initial flight testing of the AirLAS concept is scheduled for late 2025 and marks the beginning of a transformative capability for modern armed forces.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
German defense companies Diehl Defence and POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH have signed an agreement to mount the IRIS-T air-to-air missile on a reusable unmanned aerial carrier. (Picture source: POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH)
The IRIS-T missile (InfraRed Imaging System Tail/Thrust Vector-Controlled), developed by Diehl Defence as part of a multinational European consortium, is a highly agile, short-range air-to-air weapon designed to counter advanced aerial threats. Reaching speeds close to Mach 3 and offering all-aspect engagement capabilities, it is equipped with a high-resolution infrared seeker and thrust vectoring, enabling it to intercept maneuvering targets such as fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, UAVs, and helicopters—even in rear-hemisphere engagements. NATO and allied air forces have widely adopted the missile and has demonstrated operational effectiveness in real-world combat, particularly in Ukraine. Diehl Defence also developed surface-launched variants, including the IRIS-T SLM with a range of 40 km and the extended-range IRIS-T SLX capable of 80 km and altitudes of up to 30 km, broadening the missile’s tactical application.
POLARIS Raumflugzeuge GmbH, based in Bremen, is an aerospace startup spun off from the German Aerospace Center (DLR). Specializing in reusable spaceplane systems and hypersonic technologies, POLARIS has developed cutting-edge demonstrators such as STELLA, ATHENA, and AURORA. These platforms leverage advanced aerodynamics, high-speed propulsion, and autonomous flight technologies for both civilian and military applications. For the AirLAS initiative, POLARIS contributes a lightweight, unmanned aerial carrier based on its high-performance aerospace design heritage. This autonomous platform is optimized for multi-launch, rapid deployment, and reusability, making it ideal for forward-operating environments or launch from naval and airborne assets.
The core innovation of AirLAS (Airborne Launching and Attack System ) lies in its cost-effective integration of a combat-proven missile system with a reusable autonomous carrier. Traditional ground-based air defense systems are often limited by static deployment and high per-engagement costs. AirLAS addresses these limitations by enabling flexible, mobile interception capabilities that can be launched from ground vehicles, ships, helicopters, or fixed installations. The unmanned nature of the POLARIS platform further reduces operational risk while increasing tempo and responsiveness. This mobility enables AirLAS to fill operational gaps between large surface-to-air missile batteries and manned aircraft, particularly in rapidly evolving or contested battlespaces.
AirLAS is designed for multi-domain integration, including potential embedding within the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Europe’s next-generation air warfare program. As a potential node in the FCAS network, AirLAS could perform autonomous patrols, data-sharing, and coordinated intercepts in conjunction with manned and unmanned assets. It is equally suited for naval environments, where its small footprint and versatility make it ideal for deployment from the decks of warships or coastal platforms. This modularity and flexibility allow AirLAS to provide layered defense against a spectrum of threats from UAV swarms to advanced missile systems.
Furthermore, the technological foundation established by AirLAS paves the way for future applications in hypersonic defense and high-speed strike systems. With its reusable, flight-proven architecture and advanced targeting capabilities, the system could evolve into a testbed for AI-enabled swarm tactics, coordinated autonomous defense networks, and long-range rapid-reaction systems. Diehl Defence and POLARIS envision AirLAS as more than a single solution—it is a platform for innovation that aligns with future military requirements for agility, scalability, and cost efficiency.
The AirLAS development signifies a major shift in air defense strategy by combining the lethality of the IRIS-T missile with the advanced aerospace engineering of POLARIS Raumflugzeuge. It delivers an unmatched combination of precision, range, flexibility, and affordability, promising to revolutionize how modern armed forces defend against aerial threats in both conventional and hybrid warfare environments.
